Giving makes youhappy connected compassionate gratefulThe Benefits of Giving:Why Doing Good Helps You Feel GoodThe benefits of giving may just surprise you.You already know that doing good changes the world, but did you know it changes you, too?The benefits of giving are proven by science and confirmed by the heart. Giving increases happiness, improves well-being and mental health, reduces stress and even helps us live longer. And that’s just the beginning!The Benefits of GivingDaily giving creates a powerful ripple effect that can improve our happiness, well-being and connection while creating positive impact in the world around us.Benefits for usBoosts happinessSupports mental health & well-beingBuilds connectionCreates meaningLowers stressStronger social connectionsLower risk of depressionLonger lifespanBenefits for the worldStrengthens communitiesInspires others to giveSupports people, animals & the planetCreates positive changeHelps climate changeFosters global empathyCollective impactFills critical need gapsThe Heart + Science of GivingHow to Be Happy Every DayYou don’t have to wait for happiness to find you. You can switch it on.Our way to feel happier every day is to make giving a simple daily practice. Giving activates systems in our brains and bodies connected to reward, connection, mood and well-being.Meet your Daily D.O.S.E. of Happiness.Your Daily D.O.S.E. of Happiness Starts TodayA daily D.O.S.E. of Happiness is a simple 365give framework for understanding some of the brain and body systems associated with feeling good. Giving and helping others can engage systems involved in reward, connection and well-being.DDopamineReward + MotivationDopamine is involved in the brain’s reward and motivation systems and helps reinforce behaviours that feel rewarding.OOxytocinTrust + ConnectionOxytocin is involved in social bonding, trust and connection with others. Some call it your LOVE switch.SSerotoninMood + Well-beingSerotonin plays an important role in regulating mood, feelings of happiness and supporting overall well-being.EEndorphinsPleasure + Pain ReliefEndorphins are part of the body’s natural response to pain and stress and are associated with feelings of pleasure and relief.Research & Sources: Hui et al. (2020), Psychological Bulletin; Rowland & Curry (2019), The Journal of Social Psychology; Aknin et al. (2013), Journal of Personality and Social Psychology; Inagaki et al. (2022), Psychophysiology; Brown et al. (2003), Psychological Science; Jenkinson et al. (2013), BMC Public Health.“Giving directly and profoundly benefits the giver’s physical, mental, and emotional health through the release of endogenous chemicals that improve a broad range of functions, including mood, motivation, memory, learning, sleep, digestion, and blood pressure.365give practices what they preach 365 days of the year, contributing to a happier, healthier world for everyone with every act of giving.”– Dr. Rowshanak HashemiyoonBehavioural, Computational, Clinical Neuroscientist / Advisory Board 365give“365give is a tribute to the human heart at its ultimate best. It is vital that 365give continues to serve as a culturally transformative pillar of inspiration and education.Simple acts of giving can transform us emotionally. It is said that if you do not feel happy, smile anyway, and happiness will follow. The happier we are, the more we give. And the more we give, the happier we are.”– Dr. Stephen PostDirector and Founder of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care—Stony Brook University / Best Selling Author / Advisory Board 365giveFrequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the Helper’s High?The Helper’s High is the positive feeling people experience after helping others or doing good. Research shows that giving and helping others are associated with positive emotions, happiness and well-being. In simple terms, doing good can make us feel good, too.Research: Dossey (2018), The Helper’s High, Explore; Aknin, Van de Vondervoort & Hamlin (2018), Current Opinion in Psychology.Why did humans evolve to help others?Humans evolved to help others because cooperation helped us survive and thrive as a social species. Helping family, working together, sharing resources and building reciprocal relationships all supported human survival. Over time, cooperation and altruism became important parts of how humans live and succeed together.Research: Burkart et al. (2016), Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.Why make giving a daily practice?Making giving a daily practice creates more opportunities to experience the benefits of giving. Repeated small actions help bring helping others, connection and positive impact into everyday life. Research has found that performing acts of giving over several days increases happiness, with more acts associated with greater increases in happiness.Research: Rowland & Curry (2019), The Journal of Social Psychology.Can helping others reduce loneliness?Yes. Helping others can reduce feelings of loneliness and strengthen social connection. Experimental research found that giving a gift or writing a note of appreciation reduced feelings of loneliness and improved mood. More recent research also suggests that who we help and how we connect can influence the effect.Research: Lanser & Eisenberger (2023), Emotion; Lee et al. (2026), Journal of Personality.Can altruism improve physical health?Yes. Altruism and helping others are linked to physical health benefits, including healthier recovery from stress. In an experimental study, people who gave to someone else showed greater cardiovascular recovery after a stressful event than comparison groups. Other research has also linked volunteering and giving with health and longevity, although those longer-term findings are more observational.Research: Lazar & Eisenberger (2022), Psychophysiology; Jenkinson et al. (2013), BMC Public Health.How does starting a giving habit as a family benefit children and families?Starting a giving habit as a family helps children learn giving through what they see, discuss and practice at home. Research shows that parents’ role-modelling and conversations about giving are strongly related to adolescents’ giving and volunteering. Giving together also gives families a shared way to connect around helping others and making a positive impact.Research: Ottoni-Wilhelm, Estell & Perdue (2014), Journal of Adolescence; Ottoni-Wilhelm, Osili & Han (2023), Oxford Economic Papers.How does giving benefit youth and their development?Giving supports youth development by creating opportunities to build empathy, connection, confidence and skills that help young people contribute to others. Research links prosocial behaviour in youth with self-confidence, self-efficacy, self-management and other positive developmental skills. Experiential programs built around positive action have also shown benefits for empathy and well-being.Research: Meulenbeek et al. (2026), Journal of Adolescence; Chan et al. (2021), Frontiers in Psychology.What are the benefits of service learning for teachers and students in the classroom?Service learning connects classroom learning with meaningful action in the real world. A meta-analysis of 62 studies involving 11,837 students found gains in academic performance, social skills, civic engagement, attitudes toward school and learning, and attitudes toward self. For teachers, service learning offers a practical way to connect curriculum with student voice, reflection, community involvement and real-world impact.Research: Celio, Durlak & Dymnicki (2011), Journal of Experiential Education; National Youth Leadership Council, The Case for Service-Learning.Put the Benefits of Giving into Practice365give helps everyone turn small daily actions into real-world positive impact with free tools and resources that make daily giving easy. Free Resource LibrariesSchools & classroomsReady-to-use activities that build happier, connected classrooms.Find Free ToolsYouth leadershipFree youth leadership activities to build service, skills and impact.Find Free ToolsFamiliesMeaningful activities that bring your family closer together.Find Free ToolsIndividualsSimple ways to give, feel good and create impact.Coming soon. We promise. 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